With dramatic landscapes and ancient sites, cider farms and timewarp villages, a tour of rural Somerset is a delight
“Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?” asks Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey. The protagonist of Jane Austen’s first novel, set in the city in which she lived, was onto something. This is one of England’s most beautiful urban spaces, with an architectural showstopper at almost every turn: resplendent Bath Abbey, Italianate Pulteney Bridge, the grand sweep of Georgian houses that makes up the Royal Crescent.
For over 2000 years, visitors have been drawn to the Roman Baths that give the city its name. Watch the steam curling off the deep-green Great Bath before taking the mineral-rich waters at the Spa Fountain – a sip can supposedly cure everything from arthritis to gout. You can put these claims to the test even further at the cutting-edge Thermae Bath Spa; head up to the open-air rooftop pool for soothing views across the city.
From Bath, it’s 25 miles up over the Mendip Hills to Cheddar Gorge, by far your longest stretch between stops but worth it for this jaw-dropping introduction to Somerset’s more rugged scenery. Just driving through the gorge, the largest in Britain, is breath-taking, its craggy limestone cliffs towering 500 feet over the snaking road.
Esta historia es de la edición May-June 2019 de The Official Magazine Britain.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May-June 2019 de The Official Magazine Britain.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Take The High Road
The North Coast 500 is an epic route that takes you past some of the country’s most spellbinding scenery
Where To Stay In 2021
Whether it’s a country house escape, a rustic bolthole or a sophisticated city stay, you’ll find your perfect getaway on these pages
The EMPEROR'S ISLE
Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots
Hidden Cornwall
Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall
Wonders of Wales
With its wild cliffs, pretty coves and puffins galore, St Brides Bay holds the best of Pembrokeshire
Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES
Equal parts mystical moor and secluded seashore, the Yorkshire coast beats some of Britain’s more traditional summer destinations hands down
PEAK PERFORMANCE
From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country
Culture CAPITAL
After a year of stop-start openings, London's museums are welcoming visitors back in 2021 with an array of blockbuster exhibitions
HISTORIC NORFOLK
Spend time exploring this peaceful county, whose stately homes are a grand counterpoint to its unadorned rural landscapes
1066 COUNTRY
England’s sunny south coast has a rich heritage, harbouring ancient castles and evocative landscapes that tell the story of the Battle of Hastings and beyond